The Honda Civic Wheel Lug Torque Specs
by Gina Poirier
If you're considering installing wheels on a Honda Civic yourself, pay careful attention not only to the size of the wheels and the hardware, but also how you install the wheel. To maximize safety for you, your passengers and fellow drivers on the road, make sure you have the proper torque on every lug on your wheels.
Wheel Torque Definition
Wheel lug torque is the measurement used to describe how tightly the lug nuts should be fastened to the bolts when the wheel is attached to the vehicle. Every vehicle has a manufacturer-recommended wheel lug torque. Lugs that are secured too tightly can "stretch" and are more prone to cracking, shearing, loosening and breaking. Those secured too loosely do not properly connect the wheel to the vehicle. In either case, you can compromise the safety of your vehicle and severely damage the wheels, brakes or wheel hubs when the lugs are improperly torqued.
Honda Civic Lug Torque
All Honda vehicles, the Civic included, are recommended to have 80 foot-pounds of wheel lug torque.
Properly Torquing Lugs on a Civic
Some Honda Civics have four lugs per wheel, some models have five. Tighten the lugs in a criss-cross or star pattern. Measure the torque by tightening with a torque wrench so that there are 80 foot-pounds tightening each lug. Make sure that the threads on the lugs are clean and dry, otherwise you may miscalculate the torque. You should also re-torque the lugs on new wheels after driving between 50 and 100 miles because of possible metal compression and thermal stress that can occur when breaking them in.
References
Writer Bio
Gina Poirier has a professional background in nonprofit administration and management, primarily with youth development organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in international studies from the University of Washington and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
